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City of West Hollywood Officials Decry DEA Raids on Five Marijuana Dispensaries

Wednesday January 17, 9:52 pm ET

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–City of West Hollywood
officials reacted swiftly today to news that the Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) had raided and shut down five medicinal
marijuana dispensaries located in West Hollywood. “The City of West
Hollywood has had a long-standing commitment to the compassionate use
of medical marijuana for those persons who are facing catastrophic
illnesses,” said City Manager Paul Arevalo. The DEA’s enforcement of
federal drug laws against the dispensaries conflicts with Proposition
215, a ballot measure approved by the California voters in 1996
decriminalizing the use of medical marijuana.

The following five marijuana dispensaries located in West Hollywood
were raided by the DEA today:

7828 Santa Monica – Alternative Herbal Health

7825 Santa Monica – Medical Marijuana Pharmacy

7901 Santa Monica – West Hollywood Caregivers

8464 Santa Monica – California Cannabis Pharmacy

8921 Sunset – West Hollywood Center for Compassionate Healing

Just last night the West Hollywood City Council introduced an
ordinance establishing permanent regulations to mitigate the impacts
of medical marijuana dispensaries, following a two-year moratorium.
“The DEA raids came as a complete surprise to the City,” said
Arevalo. “It is regrettable that the federal, state and local
governments cannot work together on this issue.”

The City of West Hollywood has been a long-standing supporter of the
use of marijuana that is prescribed, dispensed and used for medicinal
purposes. West Hollywood is home to a disproportionately large
percentage of seniors afflicted with a variety of chronic illnesses,
and people with HIV and AIDS, for which medicinal marijuana
diminishes suffering.

Here are comments regarding today’s DEA action from two West
Hollywood City Councilmembers:

“The state of California voted to allow marijuana for medical
purposes,” says West Hollywood City Councilmember Abbe Land. “The
City of West Hollywood along with other cities across the state have
established regulations to govern the dispensing of medical
marijuana, so that people whose lives depend on this drug can be
assured of safe access to their medicine. The DEA should spend their
time going after dispensaries that are not operating in accordance
with local ordinances, as well as unscrupulous doctors who write
illegitimate prescriptions,” she continued.

“Today’s actions again demonstrate the skewed priorities of the Bush
administration and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration,” says
West Hollywood City Councilmember Jeffrey Prang. “Providing safe
access to medical marijuana for those living with serious and often
painful illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, cancer and other terminal
diseases is something this City supports. We have worked closely with
our community to insure these establishments operate safely and
comply with the spirit of Proposition 215 adopted by the voters of
California,” he continued.